Events

Hamline Recognized by President's Higher Education Honor Roll

Hamline University was named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition that an institution can receive for its commitment to community, service-learning, and civic engagement. Hamline is the only institution in the state of Minnesota that was recognized in all four honor roll categories: General Community Service, Economic Opportunity, Education, and Interfaith Community Service (with distinction). Hamline has been named to the honor roll for numerous years, but this marks the second year of this level of recognition.

"Receiving the award in all four categories is especially satisfying as Hamline seeks to embrace engaged learning across our campus through both curricular and co-curricular learning," said Chaplain Nancy Victorin-Vangurud, director of the Wesley Center for Spirituality, Service, and Social Justice." "While we know that our students are making a difference in communities, we also know that relationships in communities are making a difference in the lives of our students. The horizons of hearts and minds are widened in a time of great cultural transition in the United States."

Hamline students spent more than 190,700 hours in service to the community during the 2013-2014 academic year (the year from which the most recent honor roll takes its data). More than 30,100 hours were spent in co-curricular service through the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration, McVay Youth Partnership, Catalyst trips, Religious and Spiritual Life, and student organizations and involvement. Another 160,599 hours were given to curricular and service-learning such as student teaching, School of Business nonprofit management courses, School of Law clinics and externships, the Minnesota Justice Foundation, community service internships, and community service work study LEAD courses.

"This is a tremendous achievement and a continuing testament to Hamline’s deep commitment to service and social justice. I’m so very proud of our students, faculty, and staff who dedicate much of their time and heart to bettering the world around them," Hamline President Fayneese Miller said. "It’s gratifying to see this work recognized at such a high level. I know the ethic of service that is cultivated and nurtured at Hamline is a force for change, and that our students carry that with them into world long after they graduate."

The honor roll recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has administered the award since 2006 in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education, Campus Compact, and the Interfaith Youth Core.